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78 THE ANCESTOR questions — what, having regard to the derivation and historical meaning of the word, a gentleman really is, and who amongst us are gentlemen and who are not. Out of the multitude of definitions, which may we accept as true ? Are we to conclude with Chaucer that ' gentilesse ' is ' annexed to possessioun ' and ' descended out of old richesse ' ; with Sir Thomas Smith that any one is a gentleman who can live idly and without manual labour ; or with Shakespeare and the heralds that a ' household coat ' is the only patent of gentility ? Can a breath unmake gentlemen as a breath has made, or is the grand old name founded upon something better and more honourable than wealth and idleness, parchment and ink, the favour of Princes or the patronage of kings of arms ? To many people such an enquiry will appear to be of some picturesque interest, but of little or no practical utility. I am not of that opinion. I believe that a real understanding of the word ' gentleman ' will clear the air of a great deal of vulgar pretentiousness, and will tend to promote a better and more friendly feeling between all classes in the community. I know that at one period of our history infinite harm was done by the doctrine of ^gentill berthe,' and am altogether out of sympathy with those who wish to see that doctrine revived. In the sixteenth century, the title of gentleman was allowed by courtesy to masters in universities, doctors in the church, governors of cities, and students of the common law ; but was held not to appertain of right to any, unless they were men of coat-armour or had been addressed as gentlemen in royal letters.-^ This theory — that the Crown is the sole fountain of honour, and that nothing can make a man a gentleman except a grant of arms to himself or to an ancestor — is still maintained by the officers of arms, and has been stated again by a modern writer ^ with so much earnestness and appearance of knowledge, that it is finding its way into our literature and even into our dictionaries. The New English Dictionary on Historical Principles gives as the primary meaning of gendeman, 'a man of gentle birth, or having the same heraldic status as those of gentle birth ; properly, one who is entitled to bear arms.' ^ ^ Feme's Blaxon oj Gentrie (1586), p. 91. 2 * X,' T:he Right to Bear Arms. 3 The older dictionaries explain * gentleman ' as indicating * a man of good family.'